Gibbs peered into Abby's lab. His three field agents stared at Sam. McGee stood next to Abby, dressed in a blue buttoned-down shirt and sport coat. He obviously did not enjoy competition for her attention. Ziva played coy. She brushed her dark hair behind her ear, looking exotic, and kept scanning Sam up and down – sizing up his threat potential – when he turned. And Tony Dinozzo, in his expensive shoes and suit, circled the kid like a shark. There was a smirk plastered on his face as he stared up at Sam. The younger man didn't seem intimidated, though. If Gibbs had to choose an emotion to place on him, it'd probably be irritation.

"So this is the newbie." Tony said. "So how's the air up there? Hey, should I go ahead and arrest you now?"

"What?" Sam blinked, panic passing over his face. Gibbs took note of the response, filed it away in case it was important later. For now it was only a curiosity. Sam's papers had checked out. Abby liked him. Gibbs tentatively didn't hate him, but he needed work.

"Tony." Abby chided. She turned towards Sam, who visibly relaxed. "He means no harm, Sam. He always acts like this."

Tony crowded Sam. "Well, we've had to arrest the last few people who worked in Abby's lab so… Anyway, what brings you to NCIS." He stepped back, frowning at Sam's ruffled clothes.

Beep. Beep. Beep. Sam didn't answer him. He rummaged in his pocket, pulling out his cell phone. "Sorry." He glanced down at the phone.

Tony cleared his throat. "You've got more fashion sense than McGeek." He said motioning to McGee who looked down at his clothes surprised. "I'll give you that." Tony said. "But you still need some work there, Sammy."

Sam stared at the phone for a moment more, frowning. He pushed a few buttons, shook his head, and put it away before looking up. The agents stared at him.

"Oh." Sam bristled. "Sorry. And it's Sam." He stood up tall, looking old and hard before softening. For a moment, he seemed to be thinking hard about what he was going to say. "And I can't afford anything else." He added with a small smile. Abby and Ziva melted.

The pretty agent slapped Tony hard. She walked up to Sam. "Do not worry, Sam." She said with a slight accent. "Tony is a jackass. Just take the bull by the tail and you will be fine here for the week."

Sam's brow knitted in confusion. "Um…okay." He said rubbing his hand through his hair. She slinked closer to him, skimming her hand over his arm.

"Besides." She said turning back to catch Tony's eyes. "I find your clothing…quite attractive."

"Uhh.." Sam cleared his throat. "Um…your accent…is it Israeli?" He asked, stepping back. Her face morphed in surprise.

"Ziva here's Mossad." Tony broke in. "She can kill you fifteen ways with a paperclip. Her ninja skills take down man and boy alike…"

"What's going on?" He was cut off by Gibb's booming voice. He'd had enough of this circus. There'd be time to haze the guy after these murders were solved.

"Oh. Boss." Tony stuttered, turning towards him. "Didn't see you there. We were just…"

Gibbs stared at him. "Just what, Dinozzo? Because last time I checked, we had two dead soldiers. And no leads." The annoyance hummed in his voice.

"Right, Boss." Tony said. "I was just…on…my…way…" He paused, then added quickly, "to check phone records to see if there is any indications the men knew each other."

"Yes." Ziva held her chin out. "And I will call the families again and see if the victims frequented any of the same bars or local hang outs."

"Alright, then." They stared at him. "NOW." He barked. Tony and Ziva rushed out of the room. McGee stayed beside Abby, his mouth half open like he wanted to say something.

"What McGee?" Gibbs said sounding exasperated.

"Um…boss. I thought maybe Abby needed extra help with the evidence?"

Gibbs motioned to Sam. "Abby has extra help." He said in a low, dangerous tone. McGee opened his mouth to say something, changed his mind, nodded, and walked out. Gibbs watched him leave, shaking his head. He should've slapped McGee in the back of the head. Gibbs turned back to find Abby grinning happily.

"You got something for me, Abs?"

"No." She said. Then her grin spread. "But Sam does." She pulled his tall form closer to Gibbs. "We were going to tell Tony, but you scared him away with the Gibbs thing. It's probably just as well." She looked up at Sam. "Show him." She nudged him towards Gibbs.

"Show me what?" Gibbs didn't have time for this.

"Um..." Sam seemed to be second guessing his decision. "Yeah…okay." He grabbed a used backpack from the corner and fumbled around inside. "I…um…thought I remembered seeing something in the paper a few days ago…" He handed a newspaper out to Gibbs. "So I went by the library this morning to check the recent editions…"

That sounded fishy to Gibbs for some reason. "And?"

Sam's phone beeped. He frowned at it and put it into his pocket. "Oh. Sorry. Look on the third page. Lindsay McGeorge died a week ago. The paper said she was found in her bedroom, but it was strange because the cause of death was reported as drowning." Sam glanced at him, pursing his lips. "I thought it might be related?"

Gibbs inhaled through his nose and stared at Sam. He nodded at the kid. "Ya think?"

Beep. Beep. Beep. Sam fumbled his phone out of his pocket again. Gibbs had enough. He grabbed it, turned it off, and put it into his own pocket. Sam's eyes got big with shock.

"That's my phone." He said. Gibbs crossed his arms. Sam fidgeted. "Can I have it back?"

"Not yet." And why Gibbs had to play school marm here was beyond him. "Maybe when the case is solved."

Sam's face pulled into a stubborn expression. For a moment, Gibbs thought he was actually going to argue with him. Or make a grab for the phone. But he just bit his lip and mumbled more apologies.

"And stop…" Gibbs raised his voice. "Saying your sorry." He caught the kids face and held his gaze. The tension finally broke as Ducky strolled into the lab. His expression shifted into amusement. "Why, you've got quite the crowd today, Abby.

"Ducky! You should visit more often." She said.

"Um…Yes." The old doctor hummed. He shuffled towards Gibbs, sparing Sam a curious glance. "Alas, my visit is not one solely of pleasure. I'm afraid that Mr. Palmer and I have discovered a most troubling pattern. I brought these samples for analysis, but could you also put these images up on the monitor?"

Two pictures of pale wrists filled the screen. A darkened tear-shaped blotch stood out clearly against the inside of the pale flesh. Abby and Sam squinted at the pictures.

"What am I looking at, Duck?" Gibbs pointed to the screen.

Ducky nodded towards the images. "I initially thought it was a case of simple bruising." He pursed his lips. "But after finding the same mark on the second body, further examination shows these aren't bruises at all. Our victims were literally marked. These are not the simple effect of a knock to the wrist I'm afraid. These…" Ducky paused, inhaling deeply, "…appear to be the signature of a killer."

Gibbs frowned. "Find out what caused those marks, Abby."

"You got it, Gibbs. Sam and I are on it." She shouted.

Gibbs sighed. This case was bugging the hell out of him. He heard Ducky's genial voice fill the space as he left. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Sam. I am Dr. Mallard, but you can call me Ducky…"

**

Gibbs drove to the home of the dead petty officer's mother. His gut told him he might find answers with her. She answered the door adorned in a black suit with her gray hair in a tight bun. Her face was drawn and pale.

"Mrs. James." Gibbs smiled at her and held up his badge. "Special Agent Gibbs, NCIS. Can I come in, ma'am." She nodded and led him to a plaid couch in the sparse living room. She sat in a wooden chair beside him.

"What can I do for you Agent Gibbs?" The woman held her chin high and spoke with dry eyes. Gibbs glanced at the photographs around the room. She watched him. "His father was in the Navy, too, died in the Gulf." Military wife, then. He wasn't surprised. "When Paul said he wanted to join, I wasn't scared. I was so proud of him. If I ever lost him, I thought it would be in combat. Not like this."

"I'm sorry, ma'am. We'll find out what happened to him. I promise you that." He took her hand. "Can I ask you a few questions about your son?"

"I guess." Her brow knitted in confusion. "But I don't know what else I can tell you. I told Agent Clapton everything I could."

Gibbs cocked his head. "Agent Clapton?"

"He was here yesterday." She watched Gibbs expression and frowned. "He had an FBI badge…" She inhaled.

"Do you remember what he looked like?"

"Short hair. Handsome. I…I'm not sure. I can't believe this. Why would he…" Her eyes teared up. "He seemed like such a nice, young man."

"They always do." Gibbs leaned towards her. He put his hand on hers and spoke gently. "Can you tell me everything you told me?"

Her expression became firm. She nodded. "Please find whoever did this."

"Oh. Don't worry." Gibbs nodded. "I will."